McCarthy criticises decision to award Rice Irish football award

McCarthy criticises decision to award Rice Irish football award

Mick McCarthy has slammed the decision to name Declan Rice the FAI Young Player of the Year just weeks after he defected to play for England.

Rice won the award for his performances for Ireland in 2018 but McCarthy - who is preparing for his second stint as national boss - would rather the award went to someone who appreciated it more or that it was scrapped all together.

The 20-year-old West Ham centre back was deemed the best young player by a panel of Soccer Writers’ Association of Ireland (SWAI) for his three senior appearances last year in friendly matches.

Rice - who was born in London - has since pledged his international future to England and was called up to Gareth Southgate’s squad for the games against Czech Republic and Montenegro.

But the whole sage has left a sour taste in McCarthy’s mouth.

Speaking from the Aviva stadium as The FAI announced SportPesa as their new official betting partner, McCarthy said: “I wouldn’t have given it to him, would I heck.

“Initially I said it should be given to someone that deserves it, and that was wrong, but he was playing and if he was the best player then he deserved it.

“In my view the decision should have been changed and the award given to someone who would really appreciate it.

“He [Rice] is not going to appreciate. He probably feels slightly embarrassed by it.

“I understand that he did deserve it because he won it on merit, but for someone who has left and doesn’t want to play for us, why on earth would you give it to him? Was it to embarrass him? To embarrass the FAI? I don’t know.

“I would rather there was not an award that to give it to him. I said that, if there is no one else then don’t give the award.”

McCarthy named his squad the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Georgia with Luton striker James Collins the notable uncapped addition.

Everton’s James McCarthy, Hull midfielder David Meyler and Fulham defender Cyrus Christie are the high profile names to have been axed, while Burnley’s Stephen Ward has called time on his international career.

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